NHL Free Agency 2026: Key Dates and Top Players to Watch

The conclusion of the 2025-26 NHL season saw the Carolina Hurricanes triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights, securing the coveted Stanley Cup championship. With the celebrations winding down, general managers across the league are now turning their attention to shaping their rosters for the upcoming season.

The first major event on the calendar is the NHL draft, set for June 26-27 in Buffalo. The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to make the first selection after winning the draft lottery, setting the stage for an exciting offseason. Following the draft, the focus will shift to free agency, which officially opens at noon ET on July 1.

This year’s free agent class has seen some of its star power diminished with key players like Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov, Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, and Evgeni Malkin signing contract extensions. However, there are still several intriguing names available that teams will be keen to pursue.

Among the notable free agents is the New York Islanders’ captain, known for consistently netting 20-plus goals throughout his career, although he finished the 2025-26 season with 19 goals. His current cap hit stands at $7 million. Another player to keep an eye on is the forward who struggled with the Seattle Kraken but found his stride after a trade to Columbus, finishing with 32 points in 39 games at a cap hit of $4.5 million.

One of the more interesting cases is the third-highest-scoring player on the market, who posted 64 points after signing a one-year deal with Pittsburgh. General managers will have to weigh his strong performance against his previous subpar seasons, with a current cap hit of $2.5 million.

Additionally, a forward who bounced back to score 25 goals and accumulate 54 points after a trade to Boston is also available, carrying a cap hit of $4 million. In goal, a veteran netminder with back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies will be a hot commodity, despite being 38 years old and holding a cap hit of $10 million.

The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer may either re-sign with the Capitals or consider retirement after a 32-goal season at age 40, with a cap hit of $9.5 million. Similarly, John Carlson, the Capitals’ all-time scoring leader among defensemen, was traded to the Ducks and finished with 60 points in 71 games, currently at a cap hit of $8 million.

On the defensive front, another player traded mid-season to the Golden Knights had a solid season with 47 points, and his cap hit is $4.55 million. A breakout defenseman who scored 22 goals and racked up 70 points while stepping up during Victor Hedman’s absence is also on the market, with a remarkably low cap hit of $975,000.

Lastly, a forward who has proven capable of scoring—with two 36-goal seasons to his name—finished this season with 33 goals as the Buffalo Sabres ended a lengthy 14-season playoff drought. After a strong first round, he was held without a point in the second round, and his current cap hit is $4.75 million.

Other players to keep an eye on include Patrick Kane, Frederik Andersen, Mats Zuccarello, Brent Burns, and Bobby McMann as the free agency period approaches.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.